According to the World Health Organization (WHO), lower back pain affects more than 500 million individuals worldwide and is one of the primary causes of disability. Treatment options, however, remain limited, with most patients relying on common painkillers or opioids, which carry a high risk of dependence and addiction.
In recent years, the booming marijuana industry has promoted cannabidiol (CBD) and cannabis products as possible solutions for pain. However, experts have repeatedly warned that the scientific evidence supporting these claims has been weak.
A new large-scale clinical trial, published in Nature Medicine, may shift that conversation. The study was a phase 3, placebo-controlled trial, often considered the highest standard in medical research. It tested a marijuana-based extract known as VER-01 in over 800 participants who suffered from chronic lower back pain that had not improved with non-opioid medication.
For 12 weeks, patients were randomly given either a placebo or the extract and were then asked to rate their pain on a scale from 1 to 10. Those who took VER-01 reported their pain dropped by 1.9 points on average, compared to just 0.6 points in the placebo group. After six months, the improvements were even greater, with a 2.9-point decrease reported among the VER-01 users. Participants also experienced improved physical activity, better sleep, and a higher overall quality of life.
The study found no signs of addiction or serious harm. The most frequent side effects were mild issues like temporary dizziness, drowsiness, dry mouth, or nausea, which tended to ease with time. According to lead researcher Matthias Karst, none of the participants reported feeling “high” from the treatment.
Andrew Moore, a former Oxford University pain researcher not involved in the trial, praised the results, calling the study one of the strongest pieces of evidence to date that a compound from marijuana can genuinely ease pain. At the same time, he cautioned against assuming the extract is completely free of risks, noting that earlier claims about safety with other drugs have sometimes proven wrong.
Karst also highlighted that most marijuana-based products vary greatly in strength, purity, and consistency, making them difficult for doctors to prescribe safely. He also added that the results do not mean all cannabis or CBD products will provide the same benefits. VER-01, in contrast, was specifically designed to meet medical approval standards, meaning its results cannot be assumed for general cannabis use.
These clinical trial results are likely to provide additional credence to the conviction of companies like Aurora Cannabis Inc. (NASDAQ: ACB) (TSX: ACB) about the medicinal potential of the marijuana plant and its derivatives.
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